And wallace w



(No Model.)

1E'. E; MGCRARY 8u W. W. GELATT.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 435,444. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. MCCRARY, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, AND XVALLACE IV. GELATT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

cAR-ooUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,444,.dated September 2, 1890.

Application tiled December 9, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK E. MCCRARY, of Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, and WALLACE W. GELATT, of the city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and we do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of tl1einvention,which will enable others to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification.

Our invention has for its object an automatic car-coupling for ordinary draw-bars, whereby the coupling-pin when elevated to release the shackle will be retained automatically in position until the re-entry of a shackle to self-couple; and it consists in the novel construction and combination of parts,which will first be fully described, and specically pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view in dotted lines of our improved carcoupling, showing the coupling-pin retained in au elevated position by the drop-plate and the rebounding plunger inengagement therewith and the parts in position to receive the shackle. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the draw-head, showing the shackle thereon and the parts in a coupled position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the drawhead, showing the shackle within the same and the pin elevated and retained by the drop-plate. Fig. 4 is a view ofthe drop-plate inverted.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the igures.

A represents the draw-head of acar, which is cast in one piece and is of uniform width and thickness and of a suitable length. Through the draw-head is made in a longitudinal direction a rectangular-shaped opening a. At one end of the draw-head the inner side portion for a short distance from the said end in the direction of the opening ct2 is cut away at an angle, so as to present the flaring sides ct of the opening for the shackle Serial No. 33 3,143. (No model.)

a2 in the draw-head. Hthin the said opening a2 of the draw-head is the throat a3, .which iskformed at the meeting-point of the lines of the longitudinal opening at and the inclined sides a of the opening in the draw-head. Within the said opening a2, and in avertical line with the said throat as of the draw-head, is made a projection or lip a4, which extends in a downward direction a short distance, and from the lower edge of said lip to the end of the draw-head in the direction of the opening a2 the said lip is extended in a curved line. A short distance from the said throat a3, in the direction of the outer end of the draw-bar and extending in a Vertical direction through said draw-bar intersecting with said openin g ct, is made an opening ax; of the proper dimensions to receive the couplingpin B, which in our invention consists of a round-shaped pin, and like opening to receive said pin similar to that now in use in the coupling of cars.

Within the opening a of the draw-head is fitted so as to move with freedoina rebounding plunger C, which consists of a rectangular-shaped block. One end portion of plunger C, in the direction of the opening a2 and the lip a4 in the draw-head, is out away in a transverse direction at c from the lower line of said plunger and a suitable distance in a vertical direction equivalent to the thickness of the end portion of shackle D, which shackle is also similar to that now in common use in connection with the coupling-pin. Over the upper edge of the shackle D a portion c ot the plunger C extends a short distance, which portion, when the coupling-pin is withdrawn, strikes against the inner vertical side of the lip a4, and said portion c is cut away from the curved line of the lip a4 in an outwardlycurved line, which line is continued to the vertical line c in said end of the plunger C.

A short distance in rear of the couplingpin B and through the upper portion of the draw-head is made a transverse slot a5, the width transversely of which is slightly less than the width of the opening a in the drawhead and of the plunger C, and narrow in depth. Said slot a5 extends from the outerl side portion of the draw-head in the direction of the opening a in a downwardlyicurved line and communicates with said opening on the inner side of the draw-head at a point a short distance in rear of the opening a in the drawhead which receives the couplingpin B. Within the slot n.5 is fitted loosely a drop-plate E, which corresponds in length and width nearly to the size and shape of the slot a5 and is curved in a similar manner. l

In the upper side portion of the plunger C and of the lip c', which isV in Vline with the inner side portion of the draw-head, through which slot a5 emerges, and rin a 4transverse direction, is made a rabbet or depression c2, which slightly exceeds the length of dropplate E, and is extended in the direction of the rear end of, in an upward direction and diminished in depth as it is so extended toward, the rear end of the said plunger. Through the upper side portion of the drawhead is made a longitudinal slot a, said slot being in line with the rear end portion of plunger C when retracted its full distance within the draw-head. In a transverse direction through the upper side portion of the draw-head in line with the opening a. is made a perforation a7, through which is inserted a rock-shaftF. To the rock-shaft F is attached rigidly one end of a lever f, the other end of which extends in a downward direction a suitable distance through the slot a in rear of plunger C within the opening a, and is bent slightly in a curved line toward the rear end portion of the draw-bar. On one extended end portion of the shaft F on the outer side of the draw-head is attached at right angles thereto one end of a short lever G, which lever extends in the line of the diameter of shaft F at a dierent angle to lever f. On the lever G is an adjustable weight H, which is perforated so as to receive the lever Gand move freely thereon. Through the side portion of the weight H is made ascrew-threaded perforation h, and in said perforation is inserted one end of an adjusting-screw h.

Inthe operation of our improved coupler Y the normal position of the parts for the purpose of receiving a shackle within the drawhead and self-coupling is seen in Fig. 1, in which position, when the pin is elevated, permits the plate E, which is of a suitable weight,

to drop, and the lower portion of said plateV enter beneath and inclose the opening ax within the draw-head, thereby aiording a rest for the coupling-pin. In this position of the drop-plate the lip of the rebounding plunger C is beneath said plate, ysaid plunger beingforced in the direction of the throat as of the draw-head by the weight H, which acts upon the lever f of the rock-shaft F. As the lip c of plunger C moves forward, it strikes the inner curved line of the drop-plate E, and meeting with slight resistance elevates said plate sufficiently to permit it to Ytall within the depression c? in the said plunger. In the under side portion of the drop-plate E, at the extreme lower end, is made a transverse rabbet e, directly within which rabbet the engaging-lip c of plunger C enters. As soon as a shackle is placed within thedrawhead the plunger C is forced toward the rear end of the draw-head, and at the moment the plunger receives a rearward movement the dropplate E is thrown by the engaging portion of the lip c in rear of the opening ax and in an upward direction. This movement of plate E releases the pin B, and said pin falls, and the parts are in a coupled position, as seen in Fig. 2, the weight H on the lever Gbeing elevated in position. When cars upon the track.

are uncoupled, the position ofv `the cars is frequently unchanged-that is, the pins are withdrawn and for a time no traction is applied to move the cars inany direction, or the pins may be elevated and the whole train pushed along ,while a pull from the engine would separate the cars so uncoupled.

In this invention we aim to so simplify the present coupling that when the pins are left in au uncoupled position or elevated, as usual, this position of the coupling-pin may be automatically controlled by the re-entry of a shackle and self-couple without necessitating any further attention to the couplings thanv simply lifting the pin. Until, therefore, the shackle leaves the draw-head, although the pin B is elevated, the plunger retains its position, as seen in Fig. 3, and when the shackle is withdrawn the plunger moves forward and engages the drop-plate E and the parts are in the position as seen in Fig. l, in readiness to self-couple.

In place of the weight we may use a spring or any well-known means for causing the plunger to rebound to theopening a2 in the draw-head. The curved line f bears on the upper edge of the plunger C and serves to keep the plunger from an upward movement at the rear end and also act with .uniformity. The forward end portion c of the plunger C extends over the end of the shackle which enters the draw-head, and meeting the said portion c and the resistance of the weight on the rock-shaft the said end of y a car provided with a vertical opening therein adapted to receive the coupling-pin, and an inclined slot intersecting therewith within the draw-head in rear of` said vertical opening, of a rebounding plunger, a self-dropping plate on said inclined "slot in the path of said IOO IIO

coupling-bolt, and a lip on said plunger en.

gaging with said drop-plate within said drawhead, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In the draw-head of a car provided with a suitable longitudinal opening and an intersectng longitudinal slot, the combination therewith of a plunger, a rook-shaft in said draw-head having alever extending from said shaft Within the slot on said draw-head in one direction and in rear of said plunger and another lever extending from said shaft in another direction, and an adjustable Weight thereon, substantially as and for the purpose described.

FRANK E. MCCRARY. WALLACE W. GELATT.

Witnesses to the signature of Frank E. Mc- Crary: r

S. L. C. HAssoN, V. W. GODDINGTON. Witnesses to the signature of Wallace W. Gelattz ROBERT RYAN,

AMBRosE RIsDoN. 

